imagination of art lovers -- and even though the club is closed during the day, there have been a stream of requests from the general public to see it.

As art and music are the twin passions of artist Robert Bassett, he was thrilled when he was commissioned to paint the mural for the 21 Jazz Club at Dockyard which opened recently.

He was also commissioned by the Club's owners, Raymond Knight and Wayne Ball, to paint a large portrait of Bermuda's most famous jazz pianist, the late Lancelot Hayward.

Mr. Bassett, who is a well known artist and teacher, spent more than 50 hours painting the wide expanse of wall and enjoyed it so much, he sometimes painted straight through the night until the sun arose next morning. He says he was pleased to finish the commission but felt almost disappointed when he finally ran out of wall space.

"It's not every day that an artist is given the opportunity to create his own ideas and design for a client,'' he says, "but I love jazz and to be able to paint the mural just the way I wanted was a challenge that I loved.'' The mural forms the backdrop to the stage of the 21 Club and the only criterion laid down by the owners was that it should be "eye-catching'' and set the mood for the Club's jazz-crazy clientele.

Mr. Bassett, whose highly individual and colourful style has earned him plenty of fans both here and in the US, says he likes to paint from a given theme and, most of all, likes "painting big''.

The painting depicts a group of musicians absorbed in the creation of their own unique sounds, or as Mr. Bassett describes it, "a pumped-up drummer holds it all together as he commands the high hats and the skins, and the player who extracts from his trumpet, tones that feed the famished music lover's soul.'' His portrait of Lance Hayward shows the musician leaning over the keys of his "closest friend''.

Mr. Bassett says "It was the intention of the owners that Lance's spirit and influence live on through this painting, as a memorial from all those who knew him as a person and as a phenomenal musician.'' The 21 Club is the latest addition to Dockyard's entertainment scene, and by all accounts, has been pulling enthusiastic crowds since it opened just three weeks ago.

"It's the perfect setting for a jazz club,'' adds Mr. Bassett, "and those thick walls and high ceilings give very good acoustics.'' Shine Hayward and Friends are the present featured act, with other local guest performers and artists from abroad.

The 21 Club is open every night except Mondays, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

ALL THAT JAZZ -- Artist Robert Bassett seen with the mural he has painted for the new jazz Club 21 which has just opened at Dockyard.